Three easy steps to ski selection

Many skiers ask me to select or recommend a ski for them since I evaluate skis for a large research agency. The following are some basic steps in the selection process and I hope this will help some of you .

Do not be fooled by the "easy" term in the heading above. The steps are clear and easy but the success of your purchase is based on your honesty to yourself about; your skiing ability ( not desired ability level), your skiing type ( how you ski on the ski runs), and finally how much money you want to spend!


STEP 1.
Gather information about your needs and abilities.

Do this on paper so that if you are not satisfied once you get skis, you can blame yourself!!!

Answer honestly the following questions;

1. What is my price range?
2. What is my ability range, but more importantly ask yourself if you want to progress or are happy at the level selected.
3. How do I ski? (slow and controlled, all speeds, fast and furious, uneasy)
4. Where do I ski? ( groomed runs, off piste, hard snow, powder )
5. What is my physical condition? ( muscular mass, coordination, energy level)
6. What is most important for me in a ski? (prestige ie image, performance, price, long life of ski, pleasure )




STEP 2.

Allow me an analogy. You are a hawk soaring far above a flock of birds. You are hungry and you see hundreds of birds flying here are there. Their common "erratic" behavior is confusing you in deciding which "bird" is yours. You will never get ONE bird if you keep looking at flock.

You must focus on one or two potential "targets". Watch them.......and when you are ready, do not hesitate. Dive!!!!

You are that hawk!
Do not get lost in the maze of ski reports, in the marketing image campaigns. You have all the information you collected above ( on paper), in this step locate 5 potential skis ( for the moment forget; price, looks, store, etc...) based on one criteria which you feel is the most important.

In my case it is "performance". That is all out precision and stability so I will pick only those skis known and reported for technical skiers. Often they are called, "unforgiving" skis. (but what pleasure they give).

You select your number one selection criterion! It can be;

1. visual aspects of ski
2. company name or type
3.price level
4.side cut ( yes you will have to educate yourself about this)
5.specific ski function ( race ski, park ski, powder ski, all-round ski, etc...)
6.overall long term function.

A comment
The more precise ( and honest ) you are about you and your skiing needs, the easier it will be to select a ski for you!
The more "educated" you are about ski dynamics ( side cut, flex pattern, torsion, core material, vibration plates ) the better your choice will be!
You will also be able to understand the sales person at ski shop.


Once you have "focussed" on five models you are ready for step 3.



STEP 3
The hawk soars above his prey and watches very carefully for that one bird that "sticks out from the rest". You know, the weak wing stroke, the tired look, etc....
You want to do the same, but you are looking for positive aspects of the ski THAT MATCH YOUR NEEDS.
I need to stress this! You are answering your needs thus you must always go back to your needs. Not the shop salesperson's ( to make profit), not ski instructor's, not your friend's!

Here is the secret to selecting a "correct" ski FOR YOU!

It is the mating of your needs with the ski's attributes.

No one but you can determine what is an acceptable "mate".

You must try skis! A secret no one will tell you is that ski companies provide "demo" skis to stores, ski resorts and "others" and if a store feels you are a serious buyer, they will "find" that ski for you! Many will allow you to ski with a model for free!

You must try and compare.

Another analogy the women skiers will understand!
In the cosmetic world every company has samples which are "hidden" UNDER THE COUNTER! The smart customer knows that if you stop and chat with sales persons and seem knowledgeable about this ZYX product vs. CDS product soon the treasures will appear. I am amazed how my two girls have cabinets full of all sorts of creams, liquids and powders . All free. All samples!

You have this also in the ski world but first you must show your knowledge and intent before the back shop door opens and "behold" your ski appears!
I have even had a ski store manager "get" a specific ski for me that was not popular in the area! If you can have a car for one week to "sample", believe me you can get a demo ski!
Some ski resorts even let you try a new ski every day!

Very quickly you will discover a most marvelous thing! Like humans ski have a personality and when they are "in the groove" they are fun to be with. But when they are "not in their element" they are not very pleasant to be with! Sounds familiar?????

Another example.
I am now evaluating a Rossignol World Cup racing GS ski ( prototype for 2007). Tried it on several ski centers. Terrible ski at slow speeds. Terrible ski in soft powder snow!
Then I tried it in a ski run that was closed to public! My god!!!!! Heaven!!!
Just two words, "speed machine" ( in closed runs or race course).

Here is my message to all you future ski selectors, the proof is in the pudding! Try try and try all the skis. Then one will mate with you. You will soar! You will say, "where have you been all this time"?

That is the ski for you!

You have found your ski.



Conclusion
You have your ski, now you must find a store or place where you can buy it. As in all transactions you want the best deal. Shop around. I mean really shop around!
I am amazed how skiers "limit" themselves to their ski shop ( town, county, country) in this day of the internet.
Yes by all means go to your store and compare. Local ski stores deserve your business , as long as they are competitive. Everything is negociable and store managers can and will offer you a better price!

Here are my "hints" or biases in regards to ski prices.

1. There is a major difference in ski prices if you compare countries.For example Rossis are made in France, yet the best prices for their skis was in an "western" country!

2. Stores ski prices are locally set. What does the other store in the city sell? What can the market bear locally?

3. Suggested ski prices by the ski companies are NEVER honor!

4. Resort ski prices are higher than ski stores in cities. By resort I mean on the resort ( usually at ski base). I know of many large ski resorts that have 10 ski shops in the village or access roads. They have great ski prices.

5, Like the hawk, you must learn to hunt at specific times. Never before Christmas, never during ski holiday, never at last minute.

6. The best prices for skis are; March and August. March because ski stores are thinking of all inventory they will have to "store" away during the Summer and August because in my area many have "tent" sales!



I hope this helps you select YOUR skis!

I do recommend you visit your store and I do recommend you buy from them, as long as the price of skis is competitive!

I will be participating in a ski conference this week and will test some new 2007 models! The administrators of this site will allow me to post some pictures and comments for you!

Happy skiing and I hope you find that lost skiing partner soon.